Uprootmap
Chicago vs Janesville
Chicago and Janesville
Photo: Jeramey Jannene ( Grassferry49 ) / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 2.5
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Janesville are under the US rate in this release, 3.5 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Chicago to Janesville
In 2022-2023, 203 households filed a move from Chicago to Janesville (about 326 people, average adjusted gross income $69,414). 97 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,782 in Chicago and $964 in Janesville. Chicago has a state tax on wages. Janesville has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Janesville is 95% of the national level for the same work, against 105% in Chicago.
Janesville averages 195 sunny days, with July highs around 82°F and January nights around 19°F. Chicago is 189 sunny days, 84°F in July, 20°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Janesville and 33 in Chicago.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 203 households moved Chicago → Janesville (about 326 people, average AGI $69,414). 97 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Chicago and Janesville changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 107 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,650–$3,050
- Container or pod
- $1,100–$2,050
- Rent a truck
- $400–$750
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Dig into Janesville
Questions
Is Janesville cheaper than Chicago after tax and rent?
Yes. Janesville leaves about $800 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,782 in Chicago and $964 in Janesville.
Does Janesville have state income tax?
Janesville is in Wisconsin, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Chicago to Janesville?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.